Hi All:
Quick background: Spent July traveling. Came back home to find our long-time poolman had not attended to our pool, and we now owned the Black Lagoon. It was gross.
Parted ways with the pool guy, and immediately grabbed the reins to try and get a handle on things while, my intent was at the time, I found another pool guy.
Then, I ran into this forum, and you can probably guess the rest.
Been doing the pool store testing thing while I awaited my TF-Pro. Happy to report that as of today my pool LOOKS like a million bucks again, BUT, I suspected the chemical balance was, shall we say, not optimized.
OK, enough chit chat. Here are my FIRST results (FYI, I followed the instructions on the included laminated sheet to the letter). Appreciate any and all input, and I thank you in advance!
Comparator Block Daily:
Cl: Off the charts orange. I will try to attach a pic.
PH: 7.5 ppm
Chlorine Drop Test:
FC: 11.5 ppm
CC: 00.5 ppm
TC: 12.0 ppm
Calcium Hardness:
CH: 750 ppm (30 drops to blue)
Total Alkalinity:
TA: 150 ppm
CYA:
CYA: 60-80 ppm (how "can't see the dot" are we talking?)
If you've read this far, I will explain what I have done since I discovered my personal Black Lagoon:
1] Thought about kicking the dog, but fired the poolman instead.
2] Searched Internet for pool maintenance info, found TFP, and spent a few hours reading, then ordered a test kit.
3] Took water sample to pool store (it was an emergency), bought a pole-attached roller vacuum, a brush that has some metal in the bristles, 2 pounds shock and 2 gallons chlorine (a delusion), came home cleaned out skimmer (looked like someone had stuffed debris in there ... basket was not installed), added shock and brushed. Turned pump on max rpm, and let her run. 12 hours later, added 2 gal chlorine.
4] Next day, took sample, vacuumed, and noticed brown stuff coming out of the return lines, went to poolstore, bought DE, tested water (no chlorine!), bought a case, came home and backwashed filter, added two gallons chlorine, then went flyfishing for a week. Asked the wife to put in two gallons of chlorine midweek. Pool was looking better, but still very green and murky when I left. Pump at full rpm all week ( ).
5] Returned from my trip, pool appearance steady but still bad, shocked it again, brushed it. Next morning, vacuumed it, took sample to store -- no chlorine! Bought a case. They said needed conditioner and acid was too high (?) - partial drain and refill. Bought 5 lbs. conditioner.
6] Waited til afternoon, drained about 3-4 inches of water from pool, refilled, added 5 pounds pre-dissolved (mostly) conditioner, then added 4 gal chlorine, set the pump on 3400 rpm (max), and got the (newly rebuilt Navigator) buzzing around.
7] That was 2 nights ago. Yesterday the water was much better, actually blue, but cloudy. Brushed it again for the heckuvit, kept the Navigator running all day, pump at full RPM.
8] This morning, water is clear, blue , beautiful (like I haven't seen it in AGES, but smells strongly of chlorine), aaaaaaaaaand ... my test kit arrived today.
Quick background: Spent July traveling. Came back home to find our long-time poolman had not attended to our pool, and we now owned the Black Lagoon. It was gross.
Parted ways with the pool guy, and immediately grabbed the reins to try and get a handle on things while, my intent was at the time, I found another pool guy.
Then, I ran into this forum, and you can probably guess the rest.
Been doing the pool store testing thing while I awaited my TF-Pro. Happy to report that as of today my pool LOOKS like a million bucks again, BUT, I suspected the chemical balance was, shall we say, not optimized.
OK, enough chit chat. Here are my FIRST results (FYI, I followed the instructions on the included laminated sheet to the letter). Appreciate any and all input, and I thank you in advance!
Comparator Block Daily:
Cl: Off the charts orange. I will try to attach a pic.
PH: 7.5 ppm
Chlorine Drop Test:
FC: 11.5 ppm
CC: 00.5 ppm
TC: 12.0 ppm
Calcium Hardness:
CH: 750 ppm (30 drops to blue)
Total Alkalinity:
TA: 150 ppm
CYA:
CYA: 60-80 ppm (how "can't see the dot" are we talking?)
If you've read this far, I will explain what I have done since I discovered my personal Black Lagoon:
1] Thought about kicking the dog, but fired the poolman instead.
2] Searched Internet for pool maintenance info, found TFP, and spent a few hours reading, then ordered a test kit.
3] Took water sample to pool store (it was an emergency), bought a pole-attached roller vacuum, a brush that has some metal in the bristles, 2 pounds shock and 2 gallons chlorine (a delusion), came home cleaned out skimmer (looked like someone had stuffed debris in there ... basket was not installed), added shock and brushed. Turned pump on max rpm, and let her run. 12 hours later, added 2 gal chlorine.
4] Next day, took sample, vacuumed, and noticed brown stuff coming out of the return lines, went to poolstore, bought DE, tested water (no chlorine!), bought a case, came home and backwashed filter, added two gallons chlorine, then went flyfishing for a week. Asked the wife to put in two gallons of chlorine midweek. Pool was looking better, but still very green and murky when I left. Pump at full rpm all week (
).5] Returned from my trip, pool appearance steady but still bad, shocked it again, brushed it. Next morning, vacuumed it, took sample to store -- no chlorine! Bought a case. They said needed conditioner and acid was too high (?) - partial drain and refill. Bought 5 lbs. conditioner.
6] Waited til afternoon, drained about 3-4 inches of water from pool, refilled, added 5 pounds pre-dissolved (mostly) conditioner, then added 4 gal chlorine, set the pump on 3400 rpm (max), and got the (newly rebuilt Navigator) buzzing around.
7] That was 2 nights ago. Yesterday the water was much better, actually blue, but cloudy. Brushed it again for the heckuvit, kept the Navigator running all day, pump at full RPM.
8] This morning, water is clear, blue , beautiful (like I haven't seen it in AGES, but smells strongly of chlorine), aaaaaaaaaand ... my test kit arrived today.
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